castle
Strecno Castle
A dramatic 14th-century ruin perched on a limestone crag directly above the Vah river gorge, towering over the busy Zilina–Martin road in one of Slovakia's most photographed roadside views.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeSlovakiaŽilina Region
Martin
Žilina Region, Slovakia · Europe
About Martin
Martin is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Vrútky, 49km from Demänovská Ice Cave.
Martin is in Žilina Region, Slovakia, with about 51,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Vrútky, about 5 km away.
Martin (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈmartin] ; until 1951 Turčiansky Svätý Martin, Hungarian: Turócszentmárton, German: Turz-Sankt Martin, Latin: Sanctus Martinus / Martinopolis) is a city in northern Slovakia, situated on the Turiec river, between the Malá Fatra and Veľká Fatra mountains, near the city of Žilina. TheRead more
population numbers approximately 54,000, which makes it the ninth-largest city in Slovakia. It is the center of the Turiec region and the District of Martin.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Martin?
Within an hour or so of Martin: Strecno Castle (13 km), Vlkolínec (26 km), Donovaly Pass (30 km), Čičmany (32 km).
Are there any good drives near Martin?
The nearest famous roads are Donovaly Pass, Certovica Pass and Droga pod Reglami, Zakopane.
Where is Martin?
Martin is in Žilina Region, Slovakia, about 5 km from Vrútky.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 51,139
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Slovakia
- Region
- Žilina Region
- Timezone
- Europe/Bratislava
- Coordinates
- 49.0665, 18.9240
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Slovakia
Motorway vignette required. Zero alcohol limit for drivers.
Full driving guide for SlovakiaTags
Worth the detour from Martin
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Vlkolínec
A remarkably well-preserved UNESCO village of traditional log houses representing a complete example of a medieval central European settlement.
26 km · about 30 min drive
mountain pass
Donovaly Pass
A 960 m mountain resort saddle on Route 59 between Banska Bystrica and Ruzomberok, threading between the Low Tatras and Great Fatra with a flowing climb popular among Slovak drivers.
30 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Čičmany
The world's first folk-architecture reserve: a mountain village of dark log houses painted with white geometric patterns, a tradition some 200 years old that inspired Slovakia's Olympic team designs.
32 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Špania Dolina
A steep copper-mining village at 728 m above Banská Bystrica, mined since the Bronze Age, its miners' houses stacked around a square with a 162-step covered wooden staircase climbing to the 13th-century church.
33 km · about 40 min drive
castle
Orava Castle
A dramatic cliff-top castle perched high above the Orava River, famously used as a filming location for the 1922 movie Nosferatu.
38 km · about 45 min drive
castle
Bojnice Castle
A romantic neo-Gothic chateau of fairytale spires above a spa town, Slovakia's most-visited castle.
41 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Demänovská Ice Cave
A spectacular cave system in the Low Tatras featuring permanent ice formations, frozen waterfalls, and underground lakes.
49 km · about 55 min drive
Driving roads near Martin
5 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 30 kmDonovaly PassA 960 m mountain resort saddle on Route 59 between Banska Bystrica and Ruzomberok, threading between the Low Tatras and Great Fatra with a flowing climb popular among Slovak drivers.
- 62 kmCertovica PassThe 'Devil's Pass' carries Route 72 over the spine of the Low Tatras at 1,238 m: the highest paved road pass in Slovakia, with hairpin descents on both flanks and big ridge-top views.
- 77 kmDroga pod Reglami, ZakopaneA wooded road running along the foot of the Tatras on the edge of Zakopane, the classic approach to the trailheads.
Driving in Slovakia
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €12 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
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